As Alberta was gripped by a sudden blitz of harsh winter weather last Friday, Dec.4, many weekend and pre-Christmas activities had to be cancelled due to difficult road conditions and heavy snowfall.
While Santa Days went ahead in several neighbouring communities, in Stettler, the annual Emergency Services Charity Checkstop scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5 had to be cancelled because of snow having been piled up in the middle of Main Street.
RCMP Constable Stephanie Lesyk issued a statement inviting all those willing to contribute to the cause to make their donations to FCSS.
Another event that suffered from the difficult road conditions was the Toy and Collectibles Show at the Stettler Recreation Centre on Saturday.
More than half a dozen tables remained empty because exhibitors could not arrive and one of the organizers, Gary Sorenson, admitted that the weather had dampened interest in the show. By about 1 p.m., some 30 people visited the exhibit, which had opened 9 a.m.
Despite the weather, though, exhibitors from Fort Sasktachewan, Calgary, Lamont, Lacombe, Castor, Provost, Edmonton and Sherwood Park did make it to the show and displayed a wide variety of collections.
Local Heritage Junior B Hockey league team, the Lightning had its two home games cancelled, as well.
Coach Doug Smith said the game with Ponoka was tentatively rescheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 15 but stressed that it was going to start at 8.30 p.m. rather than the usual time of 7.30.
The date for the game with Coaldale has yet to be rearranged.
With weather forecasters predicting continued cold weather until the beginning of next week, snowplows were still at work in the morning on Tuesday, Dec. 7, trying to clear the snow on the streets.
The temperatures are expected to rise to a daily high of -4 C by Monday, Dec. 14.